Yumeng Li

My journey into the field of art and design is deeply rooted in my academic and familial influences. This early exposure to art seamlessly merged with my academic pursuits in design engineering and design research, where I explored and applied mathematical aesthetics and computational tools to parametric, lightweight, and ergonomic design. This educational foundation gave me a solid understanding of art, design, and technology, enriching my ability to innovate within a cultural context.

At PEAR & MULBERRY, we are dedicated to pioneering humanity-centered design. Our studio focuses on developing health and therapeutic products that merge cutting-edge technology with intuitive design principles. Each project is an opportunity to enhance well-being through innovative solutions that are empathetic and inclusive.

Design is a philosophy that permeates any life aspect; it involves systematic innovation in behavioral experiences; It's an art that speaks without words; It's a methodology for self-cultivation.

Projects that challenge the status quo and introduce new paradigms of user interaction.

Bio-design that incorporates the geometry of life, symbiosis, biomimicry, and plant intelligence.

The first project I designed for a company was in Beijing, where I created fashion tech accessories for a celebrity photo shoot that was a collaboration between fashion buyer brands and magazines. The pieces included 3D printed elements and incorporated soft robotics, as well as pneumatic and magnetic mechanisms.

Algae-based materials which can be 3D printed and are inherently biodegradable.

It depends on the stage of the design. In the initial stages, my priority is concept validation, ensuring that the initial concepts properly address user pain points and leave enough opportunity for imagination and evolution for the clients, users, and our team.

When my designs are realized, the immediate response involves taking a break or shifting focus to gain a fresh perspective for objective evaluation. This helps transition to the next stages of communication and handover. Honestly, I don’t often consider my emotions during this time; it’s more about ensuring the project's smooth continuation.

Ensure the design solution is sustainable both socially and environmentally, with a focus on long-term impacts.

The design field is evolving towards more sustainable and ethical due to cultural innovation and technological advancements. The future of design will focus on cultural inclusion and creating solutions that benefit humanity.

My most recent display featured 'Hui House,' an architectural exhibit Book from the Hui series that received accolades including two recent A'design Awards. It was part of a Huizhou culture-themed exhibit at a national first-tier art museum in China. Over the following two years, we are set to curate a touring exhibition in the same Hui series themed 'Hui Ink Sticks,' which is the origins of Chinese pigments.

My design inspiration comes from various sources such as music, dance, and nature…

Born in a musical family and having studied folk dance from a young age, I've grasped how music can convey profound messages and evoke a sense of the ineffable, and how dance reveals the power of dynamics, interaction, and visual intensity. These have infused my design style.

Fostering mutual growth; focusing on how altruism is ultimately mutually beneficial; being passionate while keeping a long-term, objective perspective.

This ties back to my previous point: the relationship is about mutual selection and partnership. Professionalism, sincerity, and a flexible, passionate mind will ensure a win-win situation for both sides.

The design process is not a straight line but a spiral that ascends. Throughout the process, it's crucial to maintain flexible thinking and resilience to strike a balance between sense and sensibility.

Floral arrangements featuring naturally designed plants that capture math art like the Fibonacci sequence, fractals, and the Mandelbrot set. Tea ceremony, Design books and handmade book sculptures, and my coffee bar.

Keep an open mind, stay humble, and be inclusive. Sometimes, new approaches can tackle old challenges and lead to tremendous success unexpectedly. So, avoid creating pseudo-problems or fabricating needs just for the sake of design.

As a designer committed to innovation and tackling long-standing problems, you will discover that each challenge and triumph improves your experience and capabilities to effect societal change.

The real distinction between ego and empathy lies in focusing on genuine user insights instead of relying on extensive detached questionnaires.

Beyond basic design expertise, the ability to present compelling demos through storytelling is increasingly important.

Design Thinking, Cross-disciplinary vision, Out-of-box observation.

Indeed, in most cases, simple personal time management is insufficient when it comes to a design team or studio. Design management frameworks and project progression models could work for transforming interdisciplinary collaboration and cohesive team efforts into significant time-saving advantages, avoiding the pitfalls of poor planning and inadequate communication.

It depends on the kinds, user groups, and the scope of the designed object. Most collaborative projects also vary from one month to several years.

How to coordinate interdisciplinary collaborations for turning designs into finals?

Every stage of my professional journey, grounded in design engineering and science, has been instrumental in shaping me into the design leader I am today.

Our client portfolio spans various sectors, including luxury automotive brands in the accessories, interior seating, and HMI departments, athleisure fashion sectors, high-end cosmetic brands focused on manufacturing and packaging innovations, as well as national and local museums with a focus on art and installations. For PEAR & MULBERRY, the studio I co-founded, all of our clients are highly esteemed and crucial to our work. Recently, we've finalized several brand collaboration projects that are scheduled to hit the market soon, but due to confidentiality agreements, I cannot disclose specific brands or product details at this time.

I enjoy design work that benefits the community and has the potential to change people's lives. For example, designs that reflect and preserve cultural heritage, such as those that help save endangered cultures, or designs for children, like therapeutic shoes that provide mechanical support to prevent bone diseases at certain developmental stages.

As we expand the scope and reach of our design studio, our next steps involve developing the departments within the studio and partnering with scholars such as design school lecturers and art museum collaborators. Together, we are set to establish a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting cultural innovation design. This initiative will focus on introducing and emphasizing new concepts and the significance of integrating design with culture and technology.

Both! I enjoy the process of my own exploration, and I am also very happy to work with some energetic innovators or pioneers in a team. Even when working independently, I often exchange ideas with forward-thinking professionals across fields. The sparks of inspiration between each other can lead to new breakthroughs.

Yes, I am currently working on a touring exhibition about the origins of Chinese pigments:” Hui Ink Sticks” collaborated with multiple museums and galleries after the A’design winning project ” Hui House” as a series. I am mainly responsible for the interactive, visual communication, and experiential design aspects of the art and culture domains of the “Hui Ink” exhibition.

Thanks for your time! Stay tuned for our next projects by following https://www.pear-mulberry.com/

My journey into the field of art and design is deeply rooted in my academic and familial influences. This early exposure to art seamlessly merged with my academic pursuits in design engineering and design research, where I explored and applied mathematical aesthetics and computational tools to parametric, lightweight, and ergonomic design. This educational foundation gave me a solid understanding of art, design, and technology, enriching my ability to innovate within a cultural context.

Born in a musical family and having trained in folk dance by the national 3-rd intangible cultural heritage inheritor from a young age, I've grasped how music can convey profound messages and evoke a sense of the ineffable, and how dance reveals the power of dynamics, interaction, and visual intensity. These have infused my design style and continue to inspire me.

As we expand the scope and reach of our design studio, our next steps involve developing the departments within the studio and partnering with scholars such as design school lecturers and art museum collaborators. Together, we are set to establish a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting cultural innovation design. This initiative will focus on introducing and emphasizing new concepts and the significance of integrating design with culture and technology.

Think out of the box, stay humble, and be inclusive. Sometimes, new approaches can tackle challenges and lead to interuptive innovation. So, avoid creating pseudo-problems or fabricating needs just for the sake of design. In most cases, simple personal time management is indeed insufficient when it comes to a design team or studio. Design management frameworks and project progression models could work for transforming interdisciplinary collaboration and cohesive team efforts into significant time-saving advantages, avoiding the pitfalls of poor planning and inadequate communication.

Cross-disciplinary cooperation can evidently enhance the effectiveness of design projects and be helpful for shifting focus to gain a fresh perspective for objective evaluation and to facilitate the transition to the next stages of communication and handover. However, success requires balancing autonomy within teams. The real distinction between ego and empathy lies in focusing on genuine user insights, rather than relying on extensive, detached questionnaires.

Some designs pioneer and establish trends, while others respond and develop existing trends, all contingent on the initial objectives of the project. For my part, I am more inclined to investigate and identify new needs, alongside novel materials and design solutions that address these requirements.

A good design addresses real-world issues, fulfills societal demands, and advances the frontiers of innovation. It not only solves practical problems but also allows for imagination and evolution, ultimately benefiting humanity.

Tadao Ando and Ross Lovegrove, who exemplify the dynamic interplay between design and nature, highlighting how design can transform the natural environment and, conversely, how natural elements can influence design principles.

Fostering mutual growth; focusing on how altruism is ultimately mutually beneficial; being passionate while keeping a long-term, objective perspective.

My journey into the field of art and design is deeply rooted in my academic and familial influences. This early exposure to art seamlessly merged with my academic pursuits in design engineering and design research, where I explored and applied mathematical aesthetics and computational tools to parametric, lightweight, and ergonomic design. This educational foundation gave me a solid understanding of art, design, and technology, enriching my ability to innovate within a cultural context.

Projects that challenge the status quo and introduce new paradigms of user interaction.

Think out of the box, stay humble, and be inclusive. Sometimes, new approaches can tackle challenges and lead to interruptive innovation. So, avoid creating pseudo-problems or fabricating needs just for the sake of design. In most cases, simple personal time management is indeed insufficient when it comes to a design team or studio. Design management frameworks and project progression models could work for transforming interdisciplinary collaboration and cohesive team efforts into significant time-saving advantages, avoiding the pitfalls of poor planning and inadequate communication. Cross-disciplinary cooperation can evidently enhance the effectiveness of design projects and be helpful for shifting focus to gain a fresh perspective for objective evaluation and to facilitate the transition to the next stages of communication and handover. However, success requires balancing autonomy within teams. The real distinction between ego and empathy lies in focusing on genuine user insights, rather than relying on extensive, detached questionnaires.

Solve real-world problems, meet societal needs, push the boundaries of innovation. Investing in good design means investing in the future, addressing real-world problems and leaving enough opportunity for imagination and evolution that benefit humanity.

Fostering mutual growth: focusing on how altruism is ultimately mutually beneficial; Being passionate while keeping a long-term, objective perspective.

There was never any doubt that I would become a designer. But in addition to this, I would highly possible to consider a slash career with other identities as an artist and digital media director in near future. My current projects involve leveraging AR/VR technologies to enhance digital heritage experiences, and looking ahead, I am excited about the potential for far future cross-disciplinary collaborations implies mediums for design, such as film and music.

Design is a philosophy that permeates any life aspect; it involves systematic innovation in behavioral experiences; It's an art that speaks without words; It's a methodology for self-cultivation.